I Smell a Rat
Guy Buddy Lyrics


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I think I smell a rat in my house, baby, I believe you got just too late
Aw, I smell a rat, I smell a rat in my house, honey, I think you walkin' 'round too late
You know I need a rat in my house like this now, just like I need a hole in my head

You cry baby you afraid at night, you said you can't stay home all alone
Oh you said you afraid, afraid to stay home at night, you said you didn't want to be home alone
Oh, but I keep smelling that rat every time I get back, and all, and all you do is gonna make me moan
You got my backdoor wide open, baby you say you're supposed to be afraid
You got my backdoor wide open, and you tell me you're supposed to be afraid
You know the last time I slept with it opened, you know was so cold I almost lost my head

Sometime I think you're foolin' me baby, and I do believe it's just drivin' me around
Sometime I think you're foolin' me baby, honey I think you're just drivin' me around
Why don't you leave me alone woman, you know I think there's another woman I can go,
I can be found

I think that you have it to explain, honey I'm not that hard to understand
Did you ever try to sit down and explain, I am not that hard to understand
You will be sleeping with the backdoor open, baby or with another man

You're so good, I don't believe I want to leave you alone




Oh you're so sweet to me, I don't believe, I can leave you alone
Stayin', and peepin' like you got a woman, and try to make me, all happy

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Guy Buddy's song "I Smell a Rat" portray a sense of distrust and suspicion towards the singer's significant other. The use of the metaphor of a rat creates a sense of danger and unease within the household. The repeated lines of "I smell a rat in my house" and "you know I need a rat in my house like this now, just like I need a hole in my head" emphasize the singer's frustration and irritation towards their partner's behavior.


The use of the backdoor being left open adds to the sense of vulnerability and danger within the household. The lyrics "why don't you leave me alone woman, you know I think there's another woman I can go, I can be found" show that the singer is considering leaving their partner due to their distrustful behavior. However, the lyrics "you're so good, I don't believe I want to leave you alone" show that despite their suspicions, the singer still cares for their partner and struggles with the decision to leave.


Overall, the lyrics to "I Smell a Rat" convey a sense of distrust and suspicion within a relationship, highlighting the tensions that can arise when one partner is believed to be unfaithful.


Line by Line Meaning

I think I smell a rat in my house, baby, I believe you got just too late
I suspect that there's something amiss in my house, my love. I think you might have arrived too late to fix it.


Aw, I smell a rat, I smell a rat in my house, honey, I think you walkin' 'round too late
I smell something fishy going on, my dear. It seems like you've been wandering around at odd hours.


You know I need a rat in my house like this now, just like I need a hole in my head
I don't need this kind of trouble in my life. It's as useless to me as a hole in my head.


You cry baby you afraid at night, you said you can't stay home all alone
You're scared to be alone at night, sweetheart. You've said it before.


Oh you said you afraid, afraid to stay home at night, you said you didn't want to be home alone
You expressed fear of being alone at night and not wanting to stay home by yourself.


Oh, but I keep smelling that rat every time I get back, and all, and all you do is gonna make me moan
I keep detecting something off every time I return home, and your actions are just going to make me complain.


You got my backdoor wide open, baby you say you're supposed to be afraid
You left my backdoor unlocked and you claim that you're supposed to be scared.


You know the last time I slept with it opened, you know was so cold I almost lost my head
The last time I left it open, it was so cold that I nearly lost my mind.


Sometime I think you're foolin' me baby, and I do believe it's just drivin' me around
I sometimes suspect that you're playing games with me, darling, and it's really starting to get to me.


Sometime I think you're foolin' me baby, honey I think you're just drivin' me around
I'm convinced that you're messing with me, honey. I think you're just driving me crazy for no good reason.


Why don't you leave me alone woman, you know I think there's another woman I can go, I can be found
Why don't you give me some space, woman? I think there's another woman out there who would be more suitable for me.


Did you ever try to sit down and explain, I am not that hard to understand
Have you ever tried to communicate with me, love? I'm not that difficult to comprehend.


You will be sleeping with the backdoor open, baby or with another man
If you keep this up, baby, you'll either be sleeping with the backdoor unlocked or with another man altogether.


Oh you're so sweet to me, I don't believe, I can leave you alone
You're so kind to me, I can't bear the thought of leaving you, my dear.


Stayin', and peepin' like you got a woman, and try to make me, all happy
Staying and spying around like you're trying to impress another woman and make me happy.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Exceleration Music Partners, LLC
Written by: SONNY THOMPSON, SARAH LEWIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Raphael Falzarano

LyRicS
I think I smell a rat in my house, baby I believe he got just two legs.
Aw, I smell a rat, I smell a rat in my house, honey, I think you walkin' 'round too late
You know I need a rat in my house like this now, just like I need a hole in my head

You cry baby you afraid at night, you say you can't stay home all alone
Oh you said you afraid, afraid to stay home at night, you say you didn't want to be home alone
Oh, but I can smell a rat in the time I get back, and all, and all you do is gonna make me moan

You got my backdoor wide open, baby you say you're supposed to be afraid
You got my backdoor wide open, and you tell me you're supposed to be afraid
You know the last time I slept with it opened, you know 'was so cold I almost lost my head

Sometime I think you're foolin' me baby, and I do believe it's just drivin' me around
Sometime I think you're foolin' me baby, honey I think you're just drivin' me around
Why don't you leave me alone woman, you know I think there's another women I can go
I can be found

I think that you have it to explain. honey I'm not that hard to understand
Did you ever try to sit down and explain, I am not that hard to understand
You will be sleeping with the backdoor open, baby or with another man

You're so good, I don't believe I wanna leave you alone
Oh you're so sweet to me, I don't believe, I can leave you alone
Stayin', and peepin' like you got a woman, and try to make me, all happy

Writer(s): Buddy Guy



All comments from YouTube:

jgcaesar4

The solos on this tune are essential Buddy Guy. Talk about guts!

1965Vintage

Total master of the instrument!

David Byers

One of the greatest electric Blues ever recorded!

Guillaume Tricard

Recorded in Toulouse, France and produced by my dad, Didier Tricard !

M L

Might be my favorite Buddy Guy album.

Keepon truckin

@Rick Danko very similar to my musical beginnings, well said....he’s a monster on this album, got too let loose for the 1st time,his way !

Ian Tyson

@Rick Danko man pumped out decades of raw nasty blues like no other ever could or will!...this is one of so so many

Laurent

Guillaume Tricard Je suis Toulousain... Alors merci à ton père et Buddy Guy pour ce bijou intemporet... J'écoute cet album depuis 20 ans. Et va m'accompagner longtemps. Buddy n'a jamais été aussi haut. Dantesque cet album. Pour moi, son meilleur.

Abe Gibson

Spot on...The Real Buddy Guy

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Robert Blood

I bought this album when it first came out on Alligator Records & was blown away & it still does! Some of Buddy's greatest recordings.

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